MICRO-ENDOSCOPE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME
A micro-endoscope and method of making the same includes a mounting housing, a camera module received within the mounting housing, and an encapsulation material interposed between the camera module and the mounting housing for fixedly mounting the camera module within the mounting housing and/or inhibiting the passage of light between the camera module and the mounting housing. The micro-endoscope further includes a light guide having the mounting housing received therein.
1 . An endoscope, comprising:
a camera module, with a camera that receives an image;
a scope shaft, having a front portion, where the camera is mounted to receive the image from the front portion of the scope shaft;
a light guide, having a light receiving end receiving light, and the light guide guiding the light along the light guide, the light guide emitting the light at a light transmitting end at the front portion of the scope shaft, the light emitted at the light transmitting end illuminating an area of the image at the front portion,
the light guide having a first part adjacent the light receiving end, that has a hollow and tapered interior section, where the hollow part of the tapered interior section narrows in size in a direction away from the camera to define a conical chamber inside the light guide,
and the light guide terminating at the front portion emitting the light.
2 . The endoscope as in claim 1 , wherein the light guide at the front portion forms a hollow cylindrical area which emits the light in a cylindrical shape, completely around the camera.
3 . The endoscope as in claim 2 , wherein the light guide at the light transmitting end surrounds the camera which is inside the hollow inside section of the light guide.
4 . The endoscope as in claim 2 , further comprising a cylindrical mounting tube, wherein the camera is within the cylindrical mounting tube, and the cylindrical mounting tube is located within the hollow inside section of the light guide.
5 . The endoscope as in claim 4 , wherein the light guide has a second part that has a constant inner diameter, and the camera is within the second part and is not within the first part.
6 . The endoscope as in claim 1 , wherein the light receiving end of the light guide is solid and does not have a hollow portion therein, and the hollow portion starts at a location spaced from the light receiving end.
7 . The endoscope as in claim 1 , wherein the light guide has a second part that has a constant inner diameter, that leads from the first part that has a tapered interior section to the light emitting end, and where the constant inner diameter part forms a constant diameter hollow cylindrical area.
8 . The endoscope as in claim 7 , wherein an outer diameter of the light guide has a tapered exterior diameter in an area of the first part.
9 . The endoscope as in claim 8 , wherein the outer diameter of the light guide has a constant exterior diameter in areas other than the first part.
10 . An endoscope comprising:
an endoscope tube;
a camera, located in the endoscope tube and having an optical portion extending to image an imaging area at a first end of the endoscope tube;
a light guide, having a first end which receives light, and having a second end which is exposed to illuminate the imaging area at the first end of the endoscope tube, lighting an area on the first end of the endoscope tube, where the second end of the light guide surrounds the camera and forms a hollow cylindrical area surrounding the camera;
the first end of the light guide which receives the light being a filled, non-hollow, cylindrical area,
the light guide having a conical section adjacent the first end, wherein the conical section of the light guide is hollow, and a diameter of the hollow section of the light guide increases towards the second end, to form the conical section, where the conical section leads to a constant diameter section, which forms the hollow cylindrical area that has a constant diameter,
wherein the camera is located within the hollow cylindrical area which has the constant diameter.
11 . The endoscope as in claim 10 , further comprising a cylindrical mounting tube, and wherein the camera is mounted within the cylindrical mounting tube, and wherein the cylindrical mounting tube is located within the hollow interior section of the light guide.
12 . The endoscope as in claim 10 , wherein an outer diameter of the light guide tapers in exterior diameter in an area of the first part, getting larger in exterior diameter as the hollow conical section also increases in diameter.
13 . The endoscope as in claim 11 , further comprising encapsulation material inside the cylindrical mounting tube, preventing light from receiving reaching the camera.
14 . A method of imaging using an endoscope, comprising:
receiving an image into a camera portion of a scope shaft of an endoscope, the scope shaft, having a front portion, where the camera receives the image from the front portion of the scope shaft;
guiding illuminating light for the camera on a light guide, having a light receiving end receiving light, and the light guide guiding the light along the light guide, the light guide emitting the light at a light transmitting end at the front portion of the scope shaft, the light emitted at the light transmitting end illuminating an area of the image at the front portion,
guiding the light through the light guide through a first part adjacent the light receiving end, that has a hollow and tapered interior section, where the hollow part of the tapered interior section narrows in size in a direction away from the camera to define a conical chamber inside the light guide,
the light exiting the light guide at the front portion emitting the light.
15 . The method as in claim 14 , wherein the emitting from the light guide at the front portion is in a hollow cylindrical area which emits the light in a cylindrical shape, completely around the camera.
16 . The method as in claim 15 , wherein the light guide at the light transmitting end surrounds the camera which is inside the hollow inside section of the light guide.
17 . The method as in claim 15 , further comprising mounting parts in a cylindrical mounting tube, wherein the camera is within the cylindrical mounting tube, and the cylindrical mounting tube is located within the hollow inside section of the light guide.
18 . The method as in claim 17 , wherein the light guide has a second part that has a constant inner diameter, and the mounting the camera is within the second part and is not within the first part.
19 . The method as in claim 14 , wherein the light receiving end of the light guide is solid and does not have a hollow portion therein and the solid portion receives the light, and the hollow portion starts at a location spaced from the light receiving end and the light is transmitted through the hollow portion.